700 services to be affected as Brisbane City Council drivers set to walk off in peak hour

Commuter chaos is looming next week when Kylie Minogue is due to perform at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Brisbane faces being paralysed during peak hour next week after the bus union called a strike for February 26 which could affect up to 700 services — on the same day singer Kylie Minogue is set to perform at Boondall.

About 300,000 bus passengers could be affected, based on TransLink trip data for Wednesday this week.

And turmoil could spread to other unions covering council’s 8000 workers, from early March, unless there is agreement on redundancy changes and skills payments for tradies.

Rail Tram and Bus Union boss Tom Brown said negotiations were “delicately poised’’.

“We will make a (final) announcement on Monday. There has been significant movement (from council) for unions to consider and we’re close, but not there yet,’’ he said.

Striking bus drivers at Virginia on Thursday morning.

While school routes would be spared, the stoppage was likely to significantly worsen traffic on one of the busiest days of the week for motorists.

The sold-out Minogue concert at Boondall Entertainment Centre would also increase the number of cars on the road.

Traffic was hectic around BEC this week during American singer Billie Eilish’s two performances.

Kylie Minogue performs during her Tension Tour concert at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Mark Stewart

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner accused the union of holding the city’s commuters to ransom after Mr Brown told media “we can cause more disruption and we will’’.

“They’re now threatening to strike during the afternoon peak period on Wednesday, one of the busiest days in Brisbane,’’ he said.

“Despite our fair offer, the union is behaving like a spoilt bunch of bullyboys and holding Brisbane commuters to ransom,’’ he said.

“Their selfish actions won’t just disrupt regular Brisbane commuters, but thousands of concert-goers with a ticket to see Kylie Minogue,’’ he said.

“I’m appalled a union is stopping Brisbane bus drivers from receiving our very generous pay deal.

“Our offer balances the need to give Brisbane bus drivers a better deal while keeping council’s costs under control.’’

As of Friday, council was offering pay rises of 3.75 per cent and 3.5 per cent, over two years.

Bus drivers were holding out for 4.35 per cent extra a year, over two years.

That was much higher than the 3 per cent secured last year by nurses, teachers and police and higher than last year’s national minimum award increase of 3.75 per cent.

Together union members will receive only 3 per cent more from July 1 this year, while the government is offering nurses 3 per cent this year, dropping to 2.5 per cent after that.

The union’s demand was also significantly higher than the 2.4 per cent inflation rate.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has accused the bus union of holding Brisbane commuters to ransom. Picture: Liam Kidston

When asked last week why bus drivers deserved as much, or more, than police who saved people’s lives, RTBU boss Tom Brown said his members also saved lives by reducing the number of cars on the road.

Council transport chair Ryan Murphy accused the RTBU of not bargaining in “good faith’’ after notifying council of the stoppage 30 minutes before the latest negotiations on Thursday.

Mr Brown denied that, saying the union was required under Queensland industrial relations laws to give three full business days’ notice of a strike.

He also said the union wanted to give bus patrons and motorists as much notice as possible.

Members decided to take action during peak hour only after a uniform ban, work to rule and the limited strike from about 4.30-6am on February 20 failed to make council give ground.

Mr Brown earlier described the early-morning stoppage on February 20, which council estimated affected only 87 services, as a “shot across the bows’’.

He said the main sticking point was now back pay, with an estimated $2.5m owing to drivers since the expiry of the previous EBA.

He said Mr Schrinner and Mr Murphy both got back pay when they were given their most recent 4 per cent salary increase.

Council insisted the back pay was closer to $15m.

Mr Brown said the strike could be called off at any time.

He said council had rostered many of the 20 per cent of non-unionised drivers on early shifts to cover Thursday’s strike.

Originally published as 700 services to be affected as Brisbane City Council drivers set to walk off in peak hour